To effectively manage fishery activities to ensure sustainability; enhance near shore resources; develop and implement management plans for minimizing resource depletion and conflicts of use; per legislative mandate to the Department of Land and Natural resources to provide for substantive involvement of the community in resource management decisions; and encourage scientific research and monitoring of the near shore resources and environment from Upolu Point to Ka Lae.

DRAFT AGENDA for Thursday, February 16, 2012, 6:30 to 8:30 P.M.

HALE A’U KAHAKAI (Hawai’i Big Game Fishing Club)

Presiding:

Call to Order:

Reminder of the meeting protocols from WHFC policies and Operational Guidelines and posted at all meetings.

Approval of Agenda

Roll Call

Reading and Interpretation of the WHFC Mission

Aloha: All visitors are asked to sign in and introduce themselves to the members of the Council, who are sitting at the tables.

Minutes: Draft Minutes of January 19, 2012 APPROVAL

Committee Reports: All Committee Reports must be in writing and turned into the administrator for attachment to the minutes.

Traditional and Customary Rights:

A. The PUANA KA`IKE lecture will be on February 24, Friday at 5:30 PM at Keauhou beach Resort. The subject will be Mo`o `Olelo – Mo’o Stories by Alohalani Brown.

B. The Kona Historical Society will provide a Chinese New Year Celebration February 29 at 5:30 PM at the West Hawaii Civic Center.

C. The Hawaiian Calendar has been distributed in January.

Committee of the Whole to track recommendations of the WHFC, the Council: Report on movement of submitted rule amendment with a bare bones timeline of WHRMFA rule is distributed under separate cover.

Request by Cindi Punihaole for help with ‘cowboy spear fishermen’ at Kahalu’u Beach before someone gets hurt. This is conflict resolution; does WHFC want to create a new committee for this; who would like to help Glennon work on this issue?

Adjourn: Please leave the premises by 9:00 PM so the clubhouse can be secured.

WHFC meetings are on the third Thursday, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Hawai`i Big Game Fishing Club. New calendar attached.

February 16 Thursday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM; March 15 Thursday from 6:30 PM to 8:309 PM; April 19 Thursday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM; May 17 Thursday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM; June 21 Thursday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM; July 19 Thursday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM; August 16 Thursday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM; September 20 Thursday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM; October 18 Thursday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM; November 15 Thursday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM; December 13 Thursday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

To effectively manage fishery activities to ensure sustainability; enhance near shore resources; develop and implement management plans for minimizing resource depletion and conflicts of use; per legislative mandate to the Department of Land and Natural resources to provide for substantive involvement of the community in resource management decisions; and encourage scientific research and monitoring of the near shore resources and environment from Upolu Point to Ka Lae.

STRATEGIC PLANNING for the West Hawaii Fisheries Council

Each WHFC committee and the Council in general were asked to set goals for 2012; these priorities for 2012 have been voted on and approved by the full council at the WHFC January meeting.

The Big Island Reef Fund (BIRF) has announced the winners for its 2012 Bag Tag Photo Competition. Congratulation to the winners and a big Mahalo to all the photographers who participated.

Winning photos and photographers can be seen at: http://www.coral.org/WHVS_bag_tags

Each Bag Tag shows the beauty and wonder of Hawaii’s marine environment, creates awareness, and teaches how to care for our marine resources. They are also an important fundraiser for BIRF. So far, over 1,500 Bag Tags have been distributed raising over $4,000.

BIRF is a collaborative effort between Malama Kai Foundation and the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL). Mahalo to Kara Osada-D’Avella, CORAL Field Representative, for her dedicated and energetic work in making this worthwhile effort happen! Well done, Kara!

We have been asked by NOAA’s Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery group to spread the word about the untimely deaths of 4 seals in less than three months. At least 3 of the deaths are believed to be intentional killings. With a population of less than 1,200 seals and falling, Hawaiian monk seals are one of the world’s most endangered animals and the only endangered marine mammal found solely within the United States. Even one seal death is too many! If anyone has information that might help, please contact Rachael Sprauge @ 808.944.2240 or rachel.sprague@noaa.gov. Here is a link to a Honolulu StarAdvertiser story: http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/136694748.html

MAHALO to all our donors who have made generous contributions this year. Donations help us fulfill our mission to conserve Hawai‘i’s coastal and marine resources, and educate people about these resources. There is still time to make a year-end, tax deductible donation to Malama Kai Foundation through PayPal on our website.

We are pleased to announce a $25,000 grant from the Omidyar ‘Ohana Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation in support of the Day-Use Mooring Program. Mahalo to Pierre and Pamela Omidyar for their support in helping to protect coral reefs in Hawai‘i from anchor damage.

Dr. Bill Walsh, aquatic biologist with the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources, will address the issue of aquarium collecting in West Hawaii and separate myth from reality. Drawing on various studies, some spanning decades, Dr. Walsh will provide the most up-to-date analyses of aquari­um collecting along our coast and provide the scientific basis of the ongoing efforts underway to ensure a more sustainable fishery.

Tuesday, December 6th

6:30 pm-8:00 pm

Kealakehe High School

Library, Kailua-Kona

Hawai’i Wildlife Center is having a Grand Opening of its beautiful new facility on the Island of Hawai’i. Celebration is on Saturday, November 19 from 10:30am – 12:30pm. Location is Lighthouse Road, Kapaau. Congratulations!!